Written by Alec McMorris

The Everyday Problem Behind “The Shower Leg”

As an AK I have been using a shower chair, or sitting on the floor of hotel showers, for nearly 13 years. I am generally able to navigate my day with relative ease. But the bathroom is still a “danger zone” at home and when traveling. We recently moved into a new house that suits my family’s needs more, but one thing that has been less than ideal… is the bathroom. Our bathroom is pretty spacious, but only has a built-in shower that had to have been constructed in the 70’s. So it is a pretty tight box. With no “ledge” to sit on. Then you add in wet and slippery floors, balancing on one leg, and virtually nothing to grab onto but the soap holder… I have done some grade A adaptations to figure out getting in and out without putting myself back into a hospital bed.

It has made me think (while I am balancing on slippery tile trying to grab a bottle of shampoo), Why is a device intended to make all of this easier treated as a luxury? I am definitely not the first or only amputee that struggles in the bathroom. Why is being able to confidently take care of our personal hygiene not a given?

This is the “shower leg problem”. And it is yet another example of the gap between a person’s real-world mobility needs and the way prosthetic devices are often categorized for coverage and reimbursement.

Why an Everyday Prosthesis May Not Work in the Shower

Most everyday prosthetic devices are not suitable for everyday bathing, swimming, car washing, you name it. There are a number of things in each environment that can degrade a number of components.

  • Water and soap.
  • Humidity.
  • Chlorine.
  • Sand and grit.

Wearing your everyday device in the shower can create a lot of issues. Not the least of which being having a wet liner or sleeve for the rest of the day. Sure you can swap them out and hopefully clean them when you’re in the shower. But sometimes you just need a quick shower, and for whatever reason don’t have a clean/dry liner. 

Then the big question I ask a lot is, how are you getting clean? If you have your leg on, you can’t wash a key part of your body that needs to be cleaned. The solution to this problem is deeper than we have time to get into today, but needs to be addressed through innovation. Inevitably at some point you are going to have to remove your device.

Removing the device can create a different set of risks:

  • Hopping on a wet surface.
  • Crawling or moving without stable support.
  • Increased fall risk.
  • Needing assistance for a routine personal task.

The “Shower Leg Problem” is not simply about wanting another device. The shower is a distinct functional environment requiring a different solution. The bathroom is a functional environment key to every human being’s physical and emotional well-being. 

A Second Device Is Not Automatically “Extra”

Confidence in navigating this environment is a basic human need. Under current guidelines a secondary device is often viewed as a “Luxury”. Something extra that does not fall under the definition of “Medical Necessity”. But if we zoom out, we can see basic comparisons that show the need for secondary prosthetic devices:

  • A shower chair is not considered unnecessary because someone also owns a regular chair.
  • A wheelchair may be used for situations where walking is unsafe or impractical.
  • Different eyeglasses can serve different visual needs.

I often explain secondary devices like shoes. My brother has two healthy legs. He runs a construction company. He wakes up in the morning, goes to the gym and puts on his gym shoes. Then he goes to work and puts on his boots. When he comes home he puts on slides around the house. Each of these help him navigate confidently in specific environments. That is the “luxury” secondary devices are offering. Confident mobility.

The reality is that a single prosthesis is not optimized for real-world everyday life. It can be optimized for a few of those things. It can be set up to handle what you experience the most. But no advice is perfect for every single moment of every day. A secondary device doesn’t just add mobility confidence, its impact is larger than that.

  • It can protect the primary prosthesis from avoidable damage.
  • It may provide mobility while the everyday device is being repaired or adjusted.
  • It can support travel, swimming-pool access, beach activities, and changing-room use—not only showering.
  • It can support confidence in play and social interaction
  • It can allow those who struggled to contribute in society to become active members in their community

The bottom line is if the device enables safe hygiene and participation, calling it a luxury misses its medical and functional purpose. 

The Human Cost of Limited Access

The consequences of not having a water-capable prosthetic option are deeper than just protecting our primary device. I have referenced Confident Mobility multiple times now. But that has real mental and emotional – Human Cost that comes without this confidence:

  • Fear of falling in the bathroom.
  • Reduced privacy and dignity.
  • Reliance on caregivers or relatives.
  • Avoidance of bathing, travel, pools, beaches, or recreational activities.
  • Anxiety about damaging an expensive primary prosthesis.
  • Social isolation and reduced confidence.
  • Bathroom renovations that may be expensive, disruptive, or impossible for renters.

The true cost is not limited to the price of a prosthesis. It may also include injury, home modifications, caregiver time, missed activities, and reduced quality of life.

Limber Prosthetics and a Different Manufacturing Model

Additive manufacturing has been adjacent to the prosthetic industry for a long time, but has taken some time to gain full adoption across the field. At Limber Prosthetics we are pushing to prove how digital design and additive manufacturing are challenging traditional prosthetic production models.

Limber’s flagship product, the Px1, uses a digitally designed, 3D-printed, monolithic transtibial prosthesis rather than relying on the same multi-component structure used in many conventional systems. The Px1 is not just a “shower leg”. But it is an answer to the “Shower Leg Problem”. A simplified, integrated structure may reduce the number of components exposed to water. Limber devices are designed to withstand environments involving water, weather, sand, and grit. This makes the device useful not only for showering but also for beaches, pools, and everyday situations where water exposure is unavoidable.

“For the first time since my amputation, I was able to walk on the beach without difficulty. The leg’s lightweight design enabled me to walk steadily, without tripping or feeling unbalanced. I even waded into the water—an experience I hadn’t enjoyed since becoming an amputee. The joy and freedom I felt were indescribable.”

Heather’s experience with Limber has verified the need for devices like Px1. And how they can benefit amputees through their real-world experiences.

How Additive Manufacturing Could Improve Access

What is Additive Manufacturing? Simply put, it is using 3D printing technology to further benefit the end user. It can look many different ways and is incorporated into most work flows today. Its benefits include:

  • Patient and clinician information can be captured digitally.
  • A prosthesis can be designed around an individual’s anatomy, alignment, and functional requirements.
  • The device is produced layer by layer, potentially reducing dependence on labor-intensive fabrication and numerous separate components.

Additive Manufacturing can also provide:

  • Greater personalization.
  • Repeatable digital workflows.
  • Reduced material waste.
  • Lightweight but structurally optimized designs.
  • Faster or more scalable production in appropriate clinical settings.
  • More practical options for activity-specific devices, including water-capable secondary prostheses.

Additive manufacturing is not a complete solution by itself. Reimbursement policies, clinical assessment, patient training, safety testing, maintenance, and availability still matter. It is another tool that can be used by a skilled clinician to benefit the user. But the clinician is still the craftsman, and the most important element to any fitting process. However, reducing production complexity could help make secondary devices more feasible.

What Needs to Change

The definition of Medical Necessity needs to change. We as a community need to continue to educate the world on our needs. We need our insurance providers to evaluate prosthetic needs based on real-world function rather than assuming one device must serve every purpose.

  • Clinicians should document the safety and independence needs associated with bathing.
  • Insurers should distinguish between a duplicate device and a device designed for a different environment.
  • Manufacturers should continue developing durable, accessible, and repairable solutions.
  • Patients should be included in decisions about the activities and environments they need to navigate.

Safety, Hygiene, and Independence Are Not Luxuries

A shower leg is not simply a spare version of an everyday prosthesis. It addresses a specific environment and a specific safety need. For some amputees, that safety opens up a new world of functional possibility. Additive manufacturing is one step towards making this more realistic for many of us.